Adaptor/tubing with alarm(s)

Abstract

The present invention relates to connectors for uses where an indicator/alarm must be activated if the axial force rises above a predetermined value. It can be used in applications where excessive forces on tubings/connectors are not acceptable, for example, in tubes/couplings in fluids, and in electronic/electric, optical and other systems where a strain-relief cannot be employed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A luer-lock connector adaptor for fluid transfer comprising a luer-lock connector section, a slip connector subassembly, and an elastic member,
 said luer-lock connector section comprising a first luer-lock connector, a locking nut and a switching plate, 
 said slip connector subassembly comprising a second luer-lock connector and a stop feature with an integrated alarm, 
 said alarm comprising an alarm module and a battery, 
 said alarm module comprising an LED indicator with two external connector leads, one positive and one negative, 
 said battery providing electric voltage and power to drive said alarm module, 
 said alarm module and battery positioned with 
 one of positive or negative lead of said alarm module in electrical connection with corresponding terminal of said battery and 
 the other of said positive or negative lead of said alarm module adjacent to other corresponding terminal of said battery but not in electrical connection with it when there is no tensile force applied to 
 said luer-lock connector adaptor, 
 said elastic member connecting said luer-lock connector section and said slip luer-lock connector subassembly to allow fluid transfer between the two in a leak-proof manner, and 
 said elastic member extending when an external tensile force is applied to said luer-lock connector adaptor, thereby moving said switching plate and said other lead of said alarm module towards said battery such that it makes electrical connection with said other corresponding terminal of said battery. 
 
     
     
       2. The luer-lock connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein a battery contact is attached to at least one of said leads of said alarm module and said battery contact is used to make electrical contact with corresponding contact of said battery. 
     
     
       3. The luer-lock connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein other of said positive or negative lead of alarm module is attached to said switching plate. 
     
     
       4. The luer-lock connector adaptor of  claim 3 , wherein said switching plate is made of an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
       5. The luer-lock connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein said elastic member comprises an elastomeric tube or a bellows element or a coiled tube. 
     
     
       6. The luer-lock connector adaptor of  claim 5 , wherein said elastic member comprises a tensile spring. 
     
     
       7. The luer-lock connector adaptor of  claim 1 , comprising a compression spring between said stop feature and said switching plate. 
     
     
       8. A luer-lock connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein said alarm module comprises a second transducer with integrated drive circuitry, with leads of said transducer connected electrically in parallel with leads of said LED indicator when said alarm is actuated. 
     
     
       9. A luer-lock connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein said alarm comprises multiple alarm modules with batteries. 
     
     
       10. A connector adaptor comprising a first connector section, a second connector subassembly, and an elastic member,
 said first connector section comprising a connector fitting and a switching plate, 
 said second connector subassembly comprising a second connector fitting and a stop feature with an integrated alarm, 
 said alarm comprising an alarm module and a battery, 
 said alarm module comprising a a transducer integrated with any required drive circuitry, with two external connector leads, one positive and one negative, 
 said battery providing electric voltage and power to drive said alarm module, 
 said alarm module and battery positioned with 
 one of positive or negative lead of said alarm module is in electrical connection with corresponding terminal of said battery and 
 the other of said positive or negative lead of said alarm module adjacent to other corresponding terminal of said battery but not in electrical connection with it when there is no tensile force applied to 
 said connector adaptor, 
 said elastic member connecting said first connector section and said second connector subassembly to form a continuous path, and 
 elastic member extending when an external tensile force is applied to said connector adaptor, 
 thereby moving said switching plate and said other lead of said alarm module towards said battery such that it makes electrical connection with said other corresponding terminal of said battery. 
 
     
     
       11. The connector adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein a battery contact is attached to at least one of said leads of said alarm module and said battery contact is used to make electrical contact with corresponding contact of said battery. 
     
     
       12. The connector adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein other of said positive or negative lead of alarm module is attached to said switching plate. 
     
     
       13. The connector adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein said elastic member comprises an formed elastomeric member or a bellows element, or a coiled member. 
     
     
       14. The connector adaptor of  claim 13 , wherein said elastic member comprises a tensile spring. 
     
     
       15. The connector adaptor of  claim 10 , comprising a compression spring between said stop feature and said switching plate. 
     
     
       16. The connector adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein said alarm module is one of a piezoelectric buzzer, a electromagnetic buzzer, a LED module or an wireless transmitter module. 
     
     
       17. The connector adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein said connector fitting and said second connector fitting are of fluid, electrical or optical type. 
     
     
       18. A connector adaptor for one of fluid or data transmission, comprising a first connector section, a second connector subassembly, and an elastic member,
 said first connector section comprising a connector fitting and a switching plate, 
 said second connector subassembly comprising a second connector fitting and an integrated alarm, 
 said alarm comprising an alarm module, a battery and a switching means that are combined together in a continuous electrical circuit, 
 said switching means having an on position wherein said electrical circuit is closed and an off position wherein said electrical circuit is open, 
 said elastic member connecting said first connector section and said second connector subassembly to form a continuous path for said fluid or data transmission, and 
 said switching means being in the off position when there is no tensile force applied to said connector adaptor, and said switching plate moving relative to said switching means to force it to its on position when an external tensile force is applied to said connector adaptor. 
 
     
     
       19. An apparatus using a connector adaptor for one of fluid or data transmission, comprising a first connector section, a second connector subassembly, and an elastic member,
 said first connector section comprising a connector fitting and a switching plate, 
 said second connector subassembly comprising a second connector fitting and an integrated alarm, 
 said alarm comprising an alarm module, a battery and a switching means that are combined together in a continuous electrical circuit, 
 said switching means having an on position wherein said electrical circuit is closed and an off position wherein said electrical circuit is open, 
 said elastic member connecting said first connector section and said second connector subassembly to form a continuous path for said fluid or data transmission, and 
 said switching means being in the off position when there is no tensile force applied to said connector adaptor, and said switching plate moving relative to said switching means to force it to its on position when an external tensile force is applied to said connector adaptor. 
 
     
     
       20. An apparatus for one of fluid or data transmission comprising an elastic member, a switching plate and an alarm,
 said elastic member providing a continuous path for said fluid or data transmission, 
 said switching plate and alarm being mounted on said elastic member, 
 said alarm comprising an alarm module, a battery and a switching means that are combined together in a continuous electrical circuit, 
 said switching means having an on position wherein said electrical circuit is closed and an off position wherein said electrical circuit is open, and 
 said switching means being in the off position when there is no tensile force applied to said connector adaptor, and said switching plate moving relative to said switching means to force it to its on position when an external tensile force is applied to said elastic member.